Eatonton City Council met Monday night and the first order of business was a proclamation recognizing the 100th birthday of resident Verlia Mae Lockhart, who walked to and from the meeting, leaving with a couple of family members shortly after she received honors from Eatonton Mayor John Reid.
First, Ms. Lockhart was presented with a bouquet donated by Taylor Event & Floral Design, a sash and tiara to signify reaching the century mark, and the official, framed proclamation.
“This is to recognize Verlia Mae Lockhart, her longevity of life, and her life-long commitment to family, friends, and community,” Reid read aloud. “The council of the city of Eatonton, Georgia, joins her friends and family on the grand occasion of her hundredth birthday, to extend to her best wishes of continued health and happiness in the years to come.”
Next, the council heard from Councilwoman Mylle Mangum, who described research into AT&T FirstNet service, a technology developed in the wake of the 2001 New York City 9/11 attacks. Operating exclusively on Band 14, FirstNet maintains cellular-based communications for emergency responders, even if commercial cell service is temporarily interrupted, either by a natural disaster, system failure, sabotage or even intentional government shutdown.
Mangum explained those on the FirstNet network maintain priority, but if, for any reason, FirstNet service also was interrupted, it would be the first to be restored. She also said FirstNet is cost-effective and the city will save “a little bit of money’ while also gaining several public safety advantages.
“We love saving money,” Mangum acknowledged, “but I think the issue of public safety is actually paramount in our thinking. The sheriff’s office currently uses it and I believe that AT&T is also talking with Putnam General Hospital, with the school system, and there are other public service organizations within the county that we think will be looking at going with it.”
Following discussion, the council unanimously approved contracting initial FirstNet service for 11 “feature” phones and 15 regular cell phones, with no limits on use or data transmission, no throttling of transmissions, regardless of ambient usage, no binding contracts, and no preset or “surprise” rate hikes beyond the initial $35.99 per month/per phone.
“I feel like there is a need for it,” Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell said following the meeting. “It’s just for peace of mind when everything’s going down, but we’ll still be going. I appreciate City Council being supportive of it.”
In other business, following a presentation by Matt Ingram of the Middle Georgia Regional Commission about applying for a $1 million grant from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for city drainage improvements, the council unanimously voted to contribute $200,000 as its required portion if the grant is approved and secured.
A motion to continue approval for the use of two unmarked city vehicles by the city administrator and Mayor Reid (though the mayor does not currently take advantage of the option), also was unanimously approved by the council.
The next scheduled city council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 2 at the Putnam County Commissioners building, Room 203, 117 Putnam Dr., Eatonton.